SSRI and SNRI treatment in children and adolescents. Current views of the benefits and risks

The risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours in the treatment of depressive children and adolescents with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and selective noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) is slightly but significantly elevated. These treatments in underage patients with anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorders are however not related to a higher risk of suicidality. Effect sizes of SSRI/SNRI treatment in children and adolescents are medium to high in anxiety disorders (0.69), medium in obsessive-compulsive disorders (0.48), and low in depressive disorders (0.25). Nevertheless, the benefit:risk ratio is still positive in all three disorders.